BEREA, Ohio _ Robert Griffin III saw his football career flash before his eyes, but he never surrendered.
His perseverance prevailed Monday when Browns coach Hue Jackson formally named him the franchise's 25th starting quarterback since 1999. Although the decision had been clear for weeks, if not months, the official word from Jackson represented a significant triumph for Griffin after he experienced one of the most dramatic downfalls in NFL history.
"When you're going through tough times or going over hurdles in life, you always have to realize those who don't give up are the ones that end up winning in the end," Griffin said. "So as long as you don't give up and you keep working, you'll get another opportunity. But you have to live each day as if it's your last. So just try to get better at what you can and control what you can and pray that God takes care of the rest."
Griffin took the vast majority of the first-team snaps throughout spring practices, and he has done the same thus far in training camp. Josh McCown has worked with the No. 2 offense, and Austin Davis and rookie third-round pick Cody Kessler have toiled with the third unit.
In the past few practices, Griffin has been in a groove. He threw two touchdown passes in a live scrimmage Friday night at team headquarters and another two in a non-padded scrimmage Saturday at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. Griffin had been inconsistent throughout the spring, but the strides he's made in the last week have helped the offense steal the spotlight in the early stages of camp. His deep passes have been particularly impressive.
"It's time. Robert has earned the right to be named the starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns," Jackson said in a news release. "Since he was signed back in March, Robert has made it clear through his actions that he is willing to do everything that has been asked of him to earn this role. Throughout this process he has gained the respect from his teammates, the coaching staff and the entire organization that is necessary for him to lead our offense and really the entire team.
"(Associate head coach-offense and quarterbacks coach) Pep (Hamilton) has done an outstanding job with that room to get us to this point so we can make this decision at what I feel is the optimal time which enables us to best prepare for the regular season. It's now on Robert to show the organization and our fans that this is the right decision. Throughout the offseason program and training camp, Robert has shown improvement every day and we expect him to continue to ascend as he becomes more and more acclimated to the offensive system we will employ this season. I've been crystal clear on what we expect from Robert. He fully understands the responsibility and I feel he is ready to handle this role."
So Griffin, 26, will receive a chance to revive his career with the Browns after signing a two-year, $15 million contract with them on March 24. He's 14-22 as a starter, including 0-1 in the playoffs.
He took the league by storm four years ago as the second overall pick in the draft, leading Washington to the NFC East title and the postseason as well as earning a Pro Bowl selection and the league's offensive rookie of the year award. He went 9-7, including playoffs, during his magical 2012 season.
However, he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a postseason loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Jan. 6, 2013, and has since gone 5-15 as a starter. Injuries, trouble developing as a pocket passer and clashes with previous coaches and teammates contributed to the former Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor University experiencing one of the most dramatic downfalls in NFL history.
Last year, he suffered a concussion in a preseason game and lost the starting job to Kirk Cousins, who went on to lead the team to the NFC East championship. Griffin, meanwhile, was buried on the depth chart behind Cousins and Colt McCoy. He didn't take a single snap in the regular season, and Washington cut him on March 7.
Still, he kept the faith, and the Browns are betting on him.
"You should never doubt," Griffin said. "There's a quote out there that says, 'If you don't believe, who will?' So I'm thankful for my teammates and Coach Jackson, (head of football operations) Sashi (Brown) and all these guys for believing in me.
"Everything that you go through in life, it's a lesson. It's up to you if you decide to use that lesson in a positive or a negative way. Since I got here, I've been real thankful for just the opportunity because they don't come around that often, and when you get one, you've got to seize it."
But the work has just begun. The Browns were 3-13 last season, and the new regime has overhauled the roster with an aggressive youth movement. The energy Jackson has brought to the team in his first year as its coach can't alone spark a reversal of fortunes.
"Coach, he gave me an opportunity to come to Cleveland to help do what he plans to do here," Griffin said, "and that's turn this thing around and make it a consistent winner.
"There's never a day off. There's never a sense of relief. You've constantly got to be working to get better."
Griffin's teammates have no doubt he'll continue to do so.
"He is motivated, and I know he's got a chip on his shoulder," said rookie wide receiver Corey Coleman, who never played with Griffin during his days at Baylor but befriended him through their ties to the program.
"He's worked his butt off to get to where he is right now, and I know he's not going take anything off," said rookie offensive lineman Spencer Drango, who spent one year with Griffin at Baylor.
There's no doubt Griffin's demise in Washington fuels him.
"That will certainly ignite a new fire," McCown said, "and I feel that with Robert."
Now, with his job secure, Griffin can focus entirely on resurrecting his career.
"It's not about what's within my reach. It's about this team, and I think the sky is the limit," he said. "You never want to put a limit on what you want to do."
